TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

I rarely ever put a negative review after an all inclusive get away but after this experience I feel compelled to share. After visiting several resorts over the years this was by far the worst. After an amazing experience at the Royalton in St Lucia, we had high expectations. Check In - it was loud, music was blasting. We couldnt hear our concierge. We had general questions (i.e. where to get towels, how to book a la carte), none of this was answered. No one offered drinks.We were so hungry, we walked through the resort in the heat looking for food, only to find limited at the buffet. Maintenance - low lighting by the stairways, stairs by stage making it difficult to see where you are stepping. There was a balcony in building 11 that was broken. On our first day we had ventured on it only to realize it was broken and we could fall through, carefully walking off of it. Food - there was barely any clear labels by the items making it difficult for anyone with dietary restrictions or allergies. There were lack of serving spoons, so people were using the same spoons for everything. If we asked for a seperate spoon it was common it would never come or we would wait 30 minutes. Staff were so confused when we would ask for tea. We once waited 45 min during breakfast for hot water and tea. Other guests look frustrated as well. Drinks - there was a lack of options and they would not mix it. The staff wasnt always available to ask if we wanted a drink and if they did, we were lucky if they came back in 15 minutes, sometimes they never came back. Safety - our door 11207 did not lock properly. One night, a drunk women from another building barged in, yelling at us we should get this checked. She also told us she is a bit frazzled since these guys just jumped her husband in thier room. There was also a welcome champagne in our hotel the first day, next day it was gone. We like to take this back as souvenir usually. The royalton vibe was more like a college campus with kids over drinking everywhere.One night it was extremely loud around 1 am. For an hour, guests partied. Other guests opened their windows and yelled for them to go to sleep. Staff - all the staff were confused with basic requests and simply gave a blank stare. They couldnt communicate basic things. They were slow to respond. They filled our cups/glasses half full. Employees are often sitting on their phones. And the people who could talk to us aimed at getting us to a diamond club consideration breakfast. This is the only time staff is nice to you. I was bribed several times with a free massage, free tickets to splash, free gift etc. The hotel is all about showing guests they need diamond club membership to enjoy. They want you to feel second class. When you do have the breakfast they take you into this exclusive area where they continue to sell. All of a sudden, servers get your green tea on time. The lowest membership ranged $12500 and you are limited to similar experiences, as to what we had technically already purchased. They strategize with 4 salesman coming to talk to you. The first one was great, Angel. We had breakfast with him. He then introduced us to his 3 bosses seperately where they share the benefits of becoming a member. The last one, who is very direct, obnoxious and pushy saying things like "do you want to take your family to a nice vacation every 3 years?" When we didnt ask his question right away he said i asked you a simple question, and repeated it. It was a strange pressure tactic that was not appreciated. They talk without listening, over selling. We let them know based on our limited time at this resort where basics were lacking, we would not commit. Entertainment - it was okay, nothing amazing. 9 was a late start. There was a lack of seating in the entertainment area. And if it rained the performers had to make do on the wet stage. The rain would fall on the lobby/chairs and there were slipping hazards everywhere. A couple people fell. A la carte - they tell you to go on the app to reserve but you are limited to how many days in advance and if you have multiple rooms. They dont help you as they try to use this as bargaining to get you to upgrade to diamond club. Eventually we got the a la cartes by working with guest services, explaining our challenges. Food was okay, lack of variety and vegetarian options. Zen show was the best. They ask you to fill out the hotel survey here, in the dark, since we are all having a good time at this point. Lobster dinner was used as a diamond club privledge or an additional cost. In other resorts, i have had lobster multiple times at a la cartes, given it is supposed to be all inclusive. Beach was nice, not a lot of seaweed and well maintained Pools were good. Lack of serving staff in the area however. The food trucks didnt have food advertised and staff were extremley rude. They only went out of thier way when a supervisor walked by. Lazy river was good. But some guests were obnoxious and walked around making racist slurs, spitting in the water. We didnt feel confident in the staff that anyone would address this. The man who inflated the floaties was lazy and slow. The surfing area advertized was broken for maintenance. The teens club advertized was under renovation... Cleanliness - it was okay, not the cleanest. Dirty dishes were often left places and not picked up for a while. Walkways were not sweeped. Overall, we were extremely disappointed. We were considering diamond club before coming. But after 2 days having the worst experience ever, we were completely turned off. We had more staff approach us about diamond club membership than for drinks. Sunwing Rep - Lilly was amazing! She helped us find the best excursions for our family. We did the supreme safari and the dolphins. This was the most memorable part of our vacation! Both excursions had amazing guides.

This was the worst hotel stay I have ever had with a Marriott Branded Property. The communication between Marriott, the hotel and us was just terrible. They cancelled my pre-booked, ocean-front room the day before we got there. The website where you could pre-select your room had a glitch so 2 rooms I thought were in Building 19 were in buiding 11. They offerred a couples massage for 25 minuters for the hassle. The room woes did not stop there. The worst part of the room was a small drip from the ceiling that became a flood. First day it was a few drips on the ceiling and a pool of water underneath. We told the maintenance staff and by then, the drips had stopped so they did nothing. The next day, there were pools of water under the leaking spot on the ceiling. The water pools extended around the sink, soaker tub, and extended towards the bed about ten feet frrom the front door. We again told maintenance. They brought a ladder, looked at the drips /wet spot on the ceiling and did not come back because by then the drips had stopped. The day before we checked out, the drips had become constant and we had to put the garbage can under the leak to contain the flood. The water extended from the front door 12 feet to the bed. It took 6 large beach towels to mop up the water. We mentioned the leak to the buttler and he did nothing that we were aware of to fix the issue. The sink was also draining slow, and there was no hot water in the sink. Not once did they offer a chance to change rooms. The food at the hotel we thought would be better than the Royalton Hideaway but that was not the case. In fact it was worse. The only food that was great was at the Chefs Table and that cost an extra $150 per person. Even some of that food was served luke warm.

Shoutout to Michael our butler who took very good care of our family of 6 adults and 5 kids! Thank you Bileysis, Alexi, Fray, Riccardo, Bladimir for your service! Great food. Diamond Club recommended????? Your friends from Montreal.

There are trips you take… and then there are experiences that leave a mark on you forever. My 6 night stay at Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana Resort & Spa was more than a vacation, it was a reminder of what true hospitality feels like when it’s done right. I travel all over the world. I’ve stayed in beautiful places, experienced luxury, and encountered great service—but what I experienced here was different. It was personal. I can confidently say this experience exceeded my expectations on every level. We were welcomed into top-shelf accommodations that made us feel seen, valued, and at peace. Everything was beautiful, but what made this trip unforgettable wasn’t just the resort… it was the people. Our butler, Jesus, didn’t just do his job—he showed up in every way. Every detail was thoughtfully handled and truly made this experience unforgettable. Somewhere along the way, he stopped feeling like staff and started feeling like family. Every detail, every moment, every request… handled with intentionality and consistency. There was never a moment where we had to wonder if we were taken care of… because we already were. His level of attentiveness was unmatched, he anticipated our needs before we even had to ask. Whether it was coordinating reservations, ensuring our daily plans ran smoothly, or simply checking in to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. And honestly, he set the standard for how guests should be treated—globally. I’ve traveled enough to know the difference between good service and unforgettable service… and what Jesus gave us was unforgettable. And then there was Angel at Prime. In a world where people often try to “sell” you something, Angel did the opposite, he served us with honesty and integrity. He showed us one key truth… (you’re spending the money already). He just showed us how to make the most out of what we were already spending in travel. He took his time, walked us through everything, answered every question with patience, and made sure we truly understood what we were stepping into. There was no pressure, just clarity, knowledge, and excellence. Because of him, we were able to make a confident and informed decision, and that meant everything. Maria from Prime finalized our room and was soooo sweet and helpful. And Katty was wonderful! That’s what stood out to me most about this entire experience—they were all guest focused and I appreciated that. This resort doesn’t just offer luxury—it delivers an experience. And because of that, I can say with full confidence… I will absolutely be back. If you’re looking for a place where you won’t just be accommodated, but genuinely cared for—this is it.

Location was beautiful with a well kept beach and multiple pools of which were always spotless and had no junk around. The events hosted each night were always fun to attend, such as Queen, Beyonce, and The Greatest Showman. Dinner reservations and other needs were made convenient with the help of a butler assigned to each room, mine being Eduardo who was always available to help with whatever we needed.